The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-06
Thirty Years Ago Ha Accompanied Walker on
the Nicarsguan Fllibustering Expedition.
A Wonderful Career Of Forgery and Other
Crimes Of Greater Magnitude.
The Martha Washington Steamboat Con-
spiracy-ROgers' Arrest for Murder-His
AcquittaI and Subsequent Career.
KIssANE AS A FILIBUsTER.
In the Summer OF 1856 He Joins the Little
Army of Walker In Nicaragua.

NEW YORK, April "A grey-bearded sailor,
who has seen much adventure in South
America, told a World reporter yesterday
about Kissane's career in Nicaragua. "In the
summer of 1885," he said, "I was one of William
Walkers army Of filibusters in Nicaragua, aud
was stationed at Granada. man who gave
his name as William X. Rogers came down on
steamer from New York and Joined Walkers
little army. He was made assistant quarter.
master or assistant commissaryi forgot which,
but he didn't occupy the comparatively humble
position long. He was smart as q steel trap, and
was well educated. He had not been long in the
army before he told Walker that he was William
Kissane, the noted fOrger The ilibuster didn t
turn from him on that account; on the con.
trary, he was glad to lave such bright, en-
ergetic, pushing man as Kissane about him. 1t
soon became known to a dozen or more OF US
that Rogers was Kissane, the forger, but his
identity was not gene rally known throughout
the army.
''ln the fall OF 1856, Walker assumed the Gov
ernment OF Nicaragua, and organized his Cabi-
net. The members OF it were all natives, mere
figure heads. The real Cabinet Ministers were
Walkers shrewd men, whom he appointed nomi-
nalIy as assistants to the Ministers. He made
Rogers Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury.
He was q great help TO Walker, and without
HIM think the flibuster's scheme would have
collapsed much sooner. What sort OF a looking
man was he? About five feet ten inches high,
slender built, but active and wiry as q cat. He
was fine horseman. His complexion was a
medium between light and dark and his hair
was dark brown. He wore little if any beard,
and l should say his age in 1856 was some
thing between twenty-five and thirty years.
There was nothing particularly noticeable in
his features save that he had a very active,
alert expression. When Walker marched to Ofivas
he left Granada in charge OF General Charles
Henningsen and Rogers, or Kissane. Hen
ningsen was a brave, honorable man and
made war in an open and above board way. but
Rogers great achievements consisted in sudden
sallies on the neighboring haciendas. He would
capture the wives and lighters OF prominent
Niearagusns and hold then as hostages to:be ex-
changed for so much money or provisions.
Many of the women he captured thus COM
planned of the most dreadful treatment at his
hands. Rogers always avoided hard fighting.
Once General Henningsen tried to
have him take charge of our
outpost, but Rogers quickly declared that
he was assistant secretary OF the hacienda, not
military man, and refused to go. When Walker
wss:6nally captured at Orivas by Commander
Davies, OF the St Mary's, Rogers was with him.
He was released in San Francisco. The last
heard from him was about 1867 or 1858, when an
old ex.flibuster told me that Rogers was living
somewhere In Southern California in fine style
having made piles OF money. No one in the
State knew ne was Kissane. and presume his
identity has been unguessed to this day."